Supreme Court Upholds Death Penalty for Ex-Pheu Thai MP Banyin Tangpakorn

[webfact]

 

The Supreme Court of Thailand has upheld the death penalty for Banyin Tangpakorn, a former Pheu Thai MP and cabinet member, marking a decisive end to a high-profile and grisly murder case. 

 

Banyin was found guilty of orchestrating the premeditated murder of Chuwong Sae Tang, a wealthy construction magnate, in a staged car accident in Bangkok's Prawet district in 2015. The court determined that Banyin, who was driving the car with Chuwong seated beside him, deliberately crashed the vehicle into a roadside tree to cover up the homicide.

 

The ruling not only reaffirmed the Appeals Court’s earlier sentencing but also closed a dark chapter involving the former police lieutenant colonel. Shifted from his role as a law enforcer to that of a lawbreaker, Banyin used his insider knowledge to carry out and disguise his crime, a factor that played heavily against him in court.

 

Chuwong's murder was particularly shocking due to Banyin's calculated efforts to stage the scene as an accidental crash. The initial investigation faced numerous challenges, given Banyin's sophisticated attempt at a cover-up. However, evidence eventually revealed the premeditated nature of the crime, leading to his conviction.

 

Banyin's criminal activities weren't confined to this single incident. Before his 2020 arrest, he had been implicated in another deceptive car accident in 1991, where he survived but a woman lost her life. This case, however, didn't lead to a conviction. Furthermore, Banyin was also accused of involvement in the 2020 murder of a judge's brother, adding to his notoriety.

 

In the wake of his sentencing, the former MP attempted suicide in prison, underscoring the severity of his situation. The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the gravity of his actions and serves as a stark reminder of the ramifications of abusing power.

 

Picture courtesy:Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-06-28

 

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[smedly]

no problem, a hospital room waits until you feel better

[prakhonchai nick]

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Banyin's criminal activities weren't confined to this single incident. Before his 2020 arrest, he had been implicated in another deceptive car accident in 1991, where he survived but a woman lost her life. This case, however, didn't lead to a conviction. Furthermore, Banyin was also accused of involvement in the 2020 murder of a judge's brother, adding to his notoriety

Wow... 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

ALL appeals should be heard - just quicker is all. You seem to be the sort of person lopping off someone's head before the ink is dry on the appeal due to new evidence form !

[Karma80]

2 hours ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

 

No. All appeals must be heard, especially if a country is so backwards as to have capital punishment still. Miscarriages of justice happen. Or perhaps you think that we should take a leaf out of the Chinese court system book and have mobile death vans stationed outside every kangaroo court.

[khunjeff]

Police officer, MP, and cabinet minister - and involved in three murders. The mind boggles.

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

ALL appeals should be heard - just quicker is all. You seem to be the sort of person lopping off someone's head before the ink is dry on the appeal due to new evidence form !

 

Appeals should be heard only in cases where there is doubt or circumstantial evidence, anyone caught in the act of murder and convicted, should be executed within the month.

[seajae]

pheu thai politician, nothing else needs to be said, anything thaksin owns is corrupt, now they need to do mthe same with the boss

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, khunjeff said:

Police officer, MP, and cabinet minister - and involved in three murders. The mind boggles.

Not totally rotten as he seems to have steered clear of heroin trafficking.

[john donson]

so he was 5 years on the run ? or not worried at least to be cought...

 

when some people can borrow watches worth millions from dead friends, criminals on the run getting the red carpet and VIP threatment,  where a high up can have his own gambling ring and get away with it,  when a drug officer can plastic bag criminals and get millions of worth of cars and houses.... is anyone surprised?

[khunPer]

Anybody that knows why handcuffs are pixelated in Thai news-photos..?
(Might have been asked before, but then I've missed it.)

[digger70]

9 hours ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

Yes ,if they have enough evidence ,for sure .

This is an open and shut case this is the 3rd dead/murder he's  involved with/or Done.

[Dogmatix]

On 6/28/2024 at 5:46 AM, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

You are right and this situation looks clear cut. No tears from me in the unlikely event the switches were ever flicked on a wealthy dirtbag like this. But in places like the US it has mainly been poor blacks that got executed. So it has just been an extension of the practice of lynching. 

[connda]

On 6/28/2024 at 9:16 AM, seajae said:

pheu thai politician, nothing else needs to be said, anything thaksin owns is corrupt, now they need to do mthe same with the boss

 

On 6/28/2024 at 10:02 AM, edwinchester said:

Not totally rotten as he seems to have steered clear of heroin trafficking.

Apples don't fall far from the tree.

[itsari]

On 6/28/2024 at 5:46 AM, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!!!!!!!

Without appeal rights many would of had there life ended unjustly.

No appeal right therefore would be a farce

[itsari]

On 7/3/2024 at 10:56 AM, Dogmatix said:

You are right and this situation looks clear cut. No tears from me in the unlikely event the switches were ever flicked on a wealthy dirtbag like this. But in places like the US it has mainly been poor blacks that got executed. So it has just been an extension of the practice of lynching. 

Often in the US on death row for many years to be found not guilty after appealing.

[Dogmatix]

1 hour ago, itsari said:

Often in the US on death row for many years to be found not guilty after appealing.

Many have also been found not guilty from modern DNA evidence after being executed.

 

What is egregious about this case is that the murderer assumed that he could kill with impunity owing to his status, connections and money, most acquired through corruption and other criminal activities. For a long time it looked like he would get away with it. Many other similar types have gotten away with it.

[scorecard]

On 6/28/2024 at 3:15 AM, webfact said:

 

The Supreme Court of Thailand has upheld the death penalty for Banyin Tangpakorn, a former Pheu Thai MP and cabinet member, marking a decisive end to a high-profile and grisly murder case. 

 

Banyin was found guilty of orchestrating the premeditated murder of Chuwong Sae Tang, a wealthy construction magnate, in a staged car accident in Bangkok's Prawet district in 2015. The court determined that Banyin, who was driving the car with Chuwong seated beside him, deliberately crashed the vehicle into a roadside tree to cover up the homicide.

 

The ruling not only reaffirmed the Appeals Court’s earlier sentencing but also closed a dark chapter involving the former police lieutenant colonel. Shifted from his role as a law enforcer to that of a lawbreaker, Banyin used his insider knowledge to carry out and disguise his crime, a factor that played heavily against him in court.

 

 

Chuwong's murder was particularly shocking due to Banyin's calculated efforts to stage the scene as an accidental crash. The initial investigation faced numerous challenges, given Banyin's sophisticated attempt at a cover-up. However, evidence eventually revealed the premeditated nature of the crime, leading to his conviction.

 

Banyin's criminal activities weren't confined to this single incident. Before his 2020 arrest, he had been implicated in another deceptive car accident in 1991, where he survived but a woman lost her life. This case, however, didn't lead to a conviction. Furthermore, Banyin was also accused of involvement in the 2020 murder of a judge's brother, adding to his notoriety.

 

In the wake of his sentencing, the former MP attempted suicide in prison, underscoring the severity of his situation. The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the gravity of his actions and serves as a stark reminder of the ramifications of abusing power.

 

Picture courtesy:Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-06-28

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Note the same arrogant look on his face, same as the photos taken when he committed the crime. 

[brewsterbudgen]

Fortunately, Thailand hardly ever carries out the death sentence.

[herfiehandbag]

On 6/28/2024 at 9:07 AM, lordgrinz said:

 

Appeals should be heard only in cases where there is doubt or circumstantial evidence, anyone caught in the act of murder and convicted, should be executed within the month.

He wasn't caught in the act though was he. He was convicted as a result of a long running investigation, (5 years) which eventually unearthed sufficient evidence.

[Hunz Kittisak]

Why couldn’t he buy his way out? 

[Will B Good]

On 6/28/2024 at 3:15 AM, webfact said:

In the wake of his sentencing, the former MP attempted suicide in prison

 

 

....and failed....very odd.

 

Over the years I've read of many inmates successfully committing suicide in Thai prisons......even inmates who didn't want to commit suicide were usually successful 

[n00dle]

On 6/28/2024 at 2:38 PM, khunPer said:

Anybody that knows why handcuffs are pixelated in Thai news-photos..?
(Might have been asked before, but then I've missed it.)

 

face

[Hunz Kittisak]

47 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

....and failed....very odd.

 

Over the years I've read of many inmates successfully committing suicide in Thai prisons......even inmates who didn't want to commit suicide were usually successful 

Indeed attempted suicide is an oxymoron 

[oxo1947]

On 6/28/2024 at 5:46 AM, prakhonchai nick said:

Appeals should not be necessary. All murderers deserve to die, regardless of who they are or who they know. 9 years after the event what a complete farce!!!

 

Compared with somewhere like the USA its not a lot---The average time that appeals run out is about 19 years --but some a lot longer.

 

 

Google--What is the average time from conviction to execution in the US?

U.S. capital punishment - time elapsed between sentencing and execution 1990-2021. In 2021, an average of 233 months elapsed between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States

 

U.S. capital punishment - time elapsed between sentencing and execution 1990-2021. In 2021, an average of 233 months elapsed between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States

[TheFishman1]

 

when some people can borrow watches worth millions from dead friends, criminals on the run getting the red carpet and VIP threatment,  where a high up can have his own gambling ring and get away with it,  when a drug officer can plastic bag criminals and get millions of worth of cars and houses.... is anyone surprised?Amazing Thailand TIT

[daveAustin]

On 6/28/2024 at 2:07 AM, Karma80 said:

No. All appeals must be heard, especially if a country is so backwards as to have capital punishment still. Miscarriages of justice happen. Or perhaps you think that we should take a leaf out of the Chinese court system book and have mobile death vans stationed outside every kangaroo court.

Indeed, but naive. Reckon you'd be singing a different tune if a loved one of yours were killed. Hear the appeal, but let's not forgive irrefutable murder, eh! Personally don't think a country is backward for having capital punishment. On the contrary, I think mine has gone backward for letting murderers back into society only to kill again, and that is exactly how some of the snowflakes in my once decent country would have it. 

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Why couldn’t he buy his way out? 

Upset the 'wrong' people / not high enough mates.

[mfd101]

On 7/5/2024 at 8:14 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Fortunately, Thailand hardly ever carries out the death sentence.

Is there clarity on the criteria for when they do vs when they don't?